Entertainment

An Official Ranking Of All 84 Outfits Lindsay Bluth Wore In 'Arrested Development' Season 1

by Lia Beck
20th Television

While wearing her outfit for the second coming of Dr. Fünke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution, Lindsay Bluth says, "Look at us! We're dressed like we're in the '60s. It’s the 21st century, we should be dressing like it's the '80s." And while she does sometimes dress like she's in the '80s, her style isn't quite so easy to pin down. But, if you look at all of Lindsay Bluth's outfits from Season 1 of Arrested Development, you do see some themes. For one, she likes random straps to hang off of her garments.

On November 2, Arrested Development turns 15, and to honor this milestone, I have rounded up all 84 of Lindsay's Season 1 outfits. It's made clear throughout the series that Lindsay loves fashion, but the ensembles she comes up with run the gamut from "Something You'd See On The Red Carpet Of The 2003 Teen Choice Awards" to "Oh, God, What Is That Furry Thing?"

What's clear that Lindsay likes shawls, white ankle boots, a certain pair of white pajamas, skirt suits, embroidered robes, and clothes that have random extra pieces of fabric sticking off of them. What's less clear is how to rank her style. The outfits that are actually wearable for a normal person are the less exciting, so does that mean they rank lower or higher?

It seems the best way is to try to rank them in terms of how ridiculous they are. A ridiculous outfit is an entertaining outfit, and the ridiculous outfits are the ones that seem most typically Lindsay.

1Yellow Slightly In Frame Top (Episode 2)

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I mean, we can barely see it. Can't really pass judgement, but it looks pretty non-ridiculous

2J. Walter Weatherman Flashback Hawaiian Shirt (Episode 5)

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Everything kid Lindsay wears for the J. Walter Weatherman flashbacks is very chill.

3J. Walter Weatherman Flashback Striped Shirt (Episode 10)

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4J. Walter Weatherman Flashback Pink Shirt & Blue Shorts (Episode 10)

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5Crisp White Pajamas (Episode 4)

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Plain white pajamas are inoffensive. (These same ones later appeared in Episodes 14 and 17.)

6Black "On The Next Season..." Dress

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This is the best look we get at this one, so let's just assume it's a plain black dress.

7Good-Time Family Band Practice Outfit (Episode 19)

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This may be her most timeless outfit of the entire season.

8Painting Nails While Driving Black Shirt (Episode 5)

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Just a T-shirt.

9White Cardigan (Episode 13)

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Pretty... non-distracting.

10Bluth Family Photo (Episode 1)

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A white lacy top. Very plain.

11Bright Red Halter Dress (Episode 11)

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Pretty!

12Yellow Sundress (Episode 9)

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Cute!

13"More Meat And Fish!" Dress (Episode 9)

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Looks like a black wrap dress to me.

14Striped Coat (Episode 18)

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This is a cute coat.

15Boat Party Dress (Episode 1)

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Just a regular ol' wrap dress.

16Floral Cami (Episode 15)

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Yep.

17Gray Skirt For Family Meeting (Episode 7)

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Nothing fancy.

18"Stop The Hunger" Flashback (Episode 1)

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It does appear to have some extra fabric like Lindsay likes, but, still, it's a black dress.

19"No More Meat" Dress (Episode 9)

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It works for the occasion, sure.

20One-Sleeve Dress (Intro)

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This is for the black and white picture, not the red dress (that comes later). From what we can tell, it's another black dress, but one with two different sleeves.

21Job Application Dress (Episode 21)

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Sure, it's fine.

22Light Blue Cowl Neck Sweater (Episode 8)

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Fine.

23Yellow Screen-printed T-Shirt (Episode 3)

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There are far more intense ruffles to come.

24Pink Pajamas/Robe (Episode 12)

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We now enter the robe portion.

25Hangover Robe (Episode 2)

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While they're sort of over-the-top...

26Black & White Embroidered Robe (Episode 15)

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...they're also pretty...

27Embroidered Robe With Fringe (Episode 16)

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...and not meant to be worn outside...

28White Embroidered Robe (Episode 5)

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...so that helps.

29"I Want To Be A Cage Dancer" Tunic (Episode 20)

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It's not that ridiculous, but is funny to wear while making an announcement about becoming a cage dancer.

30Protest Sign Making Outfit (Episode 20)

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This seems fine to wear while making protest signs.

31Black Hangover Outfit (Episode 11)

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Whatever this is, it looks like it's appropriate to wear while nursing a hangover.

32Brown & Black Top (Episode 10)

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The two-tone sleeves on this make me think something questionable lurks behind that kitchen counter.

33Blue Dress (Episode 19)

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These next few can all be referred to as "understandably dated."

34PR Meeting Blazer (Episode 11)

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35Magic Show Black Dress & Shawl (Episode 9)

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36"No More Fish" Outfit (Episode 9)

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37Red Halter Dress & Black Shawl (Episode 11)

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38Shop Girl Patterned Dress & Jacket (Episode 21)

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39Auction Dress (Episode 5)

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40Pink Floral Top & Jeans (Episode 20)

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41Lavender Top & Ribbon Skirt (Episode 7)

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42Red Strapless Dress & Choker (Episode 12)

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43Printed Top & Black Pants (Episode 3)

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She could totally work in an office in this.

44Cargo Pants & White Boots (Episode 2)

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Outside of another image in the intro, this is the first real appearance of Lindsay's white boots.

45Tree Protesting Coat (Episode 4)

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It's a loud coat, but it's a cool coat.

46Black & White Striped Coat & White Boots (Episode 2)

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Again, it's over-the-top, but it's also kinda cute.

47Couples Therapy Plaid Dress & White Boots (Episode 6)

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More boots!

48Red Dress She Doesn't Want To Return (Episode 3)

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The dress is fine enough, and we can assume she wouldn't have actually styled it this way if she wasn't just messing around... probably.

49"H.O.O.P" Party Flashback (Episode 1)

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It is a plain dress, but she wore hoop earrings for her H.O.O.P. benefit, so that adds some ridiculousness points.

50Pink Coat For The Ten Commandments Protest (Episode 17)

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This one's pretty middle of the road.

51Living Classics Pageant Dress (Episode 7)

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She went really '70s here.

52Shirt, Tie, & Jeans (Episode 9)

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This seems very Lindsay, but in a quieter way.

53Purple Suit & Lace Top For "Working" (Episode 15)

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Meh.

54Cream Suit (Episode 16)

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Meh.

55Shoplifting White Blazer & Striped Pants (Episode 21)

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This is just kinda silly.

56Hairstylist Is Going To War Striped Dress (Episode 20)

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So many strappy things!

57Red Coat & Fur... Bag? (Episode 1)

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That fur thing is a purse, right?

58Brown Tank Top & Crochet Skirt? (Episode 1)

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It's kind of hard to tell what's going on, but that appears to be a crochet skirt that only looks like a blanket.

59Couples Therapy Blue Blazer & Yellow Skirt (Episode 6)

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Just your run of the mill couples therapy outfit.

60Skirt With Paintings (??) On It (Episode 12)

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I'd like to get a closer look at this.

61Red Blazer & Skirt (Episode 13)

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Why not dress like a ringmaster when confronting your husband about his never nude-ness?

62High School Yearbook (Episode 2)

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Classic, but she gets a slight pass for it being the '80s.

63Gray Ripped Top & Striped Skirt (Episode 4)

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It's a shirt with holes it in (on purpose) and a skirt with grommets all over it. This was worn with ostrich boots, as Michael pointed out.

64Tie Dye Top & Ruffle Skirt (Episode 11)

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Tie dye and ruffles.

65Red Parent-Teacher Night Skirt Suit (Episode 14)

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Pretty intense for parent-teacher night.

66Black Seduction Slip (Episode 20)

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Bonus points for the boombox.

67Pink Dress & Tweed Blazer (Episode 22)

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It's a lot.

68Prison Visit Crochet Sweater & Hat (Episode 8)

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Lindsay's first prison visit outfit didn't go over to her liking, which lead to some more... interesting choices you'll see further down.

69Dr. Fünke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution Redux (Episode 19)

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This one ranks better than the one below since she didn't really wear this by choice.

70Dr. Fünke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution (Episode 19)

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She was more into the idea here.

71Lacy Prison Visit Outfit (Episode 8)

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A new ensemble for the prisoners.

72Denim Skirt Suit (Episode 21)

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She was really proud of this one.

73Fuzzy Shawl & Flares (Episode 13)

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Oof.

74Blue Cardigan & Pearls (Episode 18)

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We can blame Carrie Bradshaw.

75Green Patterned Dress (Episode 22)

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Wow!

76Wetlands Protesting Outfit (Episode 5)

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Her T-shirt says "Neuter Fest", in case you're wondering.

77Brocade Jacket & Fuzzy... Sash? (Episode 1)

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Who knows.

78Shiny Skirt & White Boots (Intro)

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What are those sleeves doing?!

79Protest Black Hat & Printed Skirt (Episode 20)

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This is her classic protest-turned-cage-dancing outfit.

80Audition Outfit (Episode 2)

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Nothing to see here.

81Patterned Dress & Fur Cardigan (Episode 17)

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It's a fur vest/cardigan combo. Of course.

82Black Hat, Dress, & Arm Warmers (Episode 3)

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Arm warmers!!!

83Pink Top, Black Pants, Pointy Boots (Episode 10)

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Oof again.

84"Slut" T-Shirt Prison Visit Outfit (Episode 8)

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This had to be number one. It's memorable. It's ridiculous. And it was purposely worn to attract the attention of her father's fellow prison inmates. Well done, Lindsay Bluth. Well done.